Mache Pesto Pasta Recipe

Fresh pesto is delicious, easy, and bursting with flavor. It’s also incredibly versatile in that you can use many different types of greens to modify the flavor. Today I was so happy my experiment with turning French mâche into delicious Pesto proved to be delightful and nutritious.

To make the pesto, I paired the mâche lettuce (pronounced [mosh]) with champagne pear vinegar because both are so delicate and flavorful. I kept the dish very simple; I tossed pasta with garlic and a little cream. Once the pasta was well coated, I added the mâche pesto and finished the dish with lemon zest and colorful peppercorns.

The flavor combination was inspired by store-bought lemon pepper-flavored pappardelle pasta. I repeated the same flavors using lemons, green, pink and black peppercorns and a touch of champagne pear vinegar (doesn't that sound luxurious?) that I recently received from our friend Jacilyn from Bellindora. This company is four-generation family owned and is located in the heart of California's San Joaquin wine country. I've tried both their premium vinegars (cherry balsamic and champagne vinegar) as well as their fruity extra-virgin olive oil and they make wonderful pestos and salad dressings. If you want to win this trio of bottles, enter today's Bellindora giveaway!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page  or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Champagne Pear & Balsamic Cherry Vinegars + EVOO #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and Bellindora: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Pinquito Beans (+Giveaway)

I'm hooked on pinquito beans. They're much more refined than the more ordinary pinto or black beans, and like all beans, they are a great source of protein. They're perfect as a side dish to a good ol' steak or  as a main course for vegetarians. 



I received Susie Q Brand's Red Gadget Box which includes her most popular products. It makes a handy gift for the holidays, ideal for toting around your favorite kitchen tools. I used Maria Valley Style Seasoning for grilling steaks and glazed them with Suzie Q's sherry citrus rib glaze. I cooked the pinquito beans included in the package the same manner that my husband's late grandma Baji taught me. I prepared them in a masala curry gravy with Indian spices. I finished the bean dish by adding a smoky flavor using a few California red oak grilling chips. There is also a jar of salsa inside the Red Gadget Box; just serve it as a starter along with tortilla chips.

Susie Q’s Brand is the original maker of artisan foods capturing the flavors of Santa Maria Style Barbeque. Even though it's winter time, you could cook everything indoors and experiment with grilling and barbeque skills. I had fun discovering the flavors and ingredients of the Santa Maria Valley, and if you want a chance to experience them yourself, just enter today's installment of the 25 Days of Giveaways for a chance to win. Susie Q's has also kindly extended a special offer to Pham Fatale readers - if you'd like to get a Susie Q product for yourself or to give as a gift, use promo code FATALE10 at www.susieqbrand.com for a 10% discount (valid till Christmas).

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Susie Q Brand, or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Red Gadget Box #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @susieqseasoning: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

Onion Masala Manicotti Pasta Recipe (+Giveaway)

I came up with this new dish after I received masala marinara pasta sauce from our friend Dave of DavesGourmet.com. This special sauce was the winner of the Sofi Award for outstanding pasta sauce in 2010. The sauce is very creative and definitely has a South Asian flair with hints of ginger, coconut and kaffir lime leaves. It's a must try.

Since the sauce itself is a fusion of cultures, I thought it would be fun to continue the theme and make an Italian pasta dish with Indian flavors. I made Indian-style pearl onions cooked in onion masala sauce, called dopiaza. I used that mixture to flavor manicotti stuffed with ricotta cheese and a generous helping of French triple cream cheese. If that sounds a bit decadent to you, well, it is!

If you're itching to try the sauce I used in this dish, Dave's Gourmet kindly agreed to be a part of our 25 days of giveaways. For a chance at winning, just go to our 25 Days of Giveaways page and enter. We'll announce the winner tomorrow!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and Dave's Gourmet or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Dave's Gourmet Pasta Sauce #HolidayGiveaway from @Phamfatalecom and @DavesGourmet: http://bit.ly/vVk4L8".

French Green Beans with Baby Bella Mushrooms

This is the time of the year when haricots verts ("green beans" in English) are available everywhere. Don't be fooled by fancy-schmancy French names; the main difference from the regular kind is that these are thinner, more delicate green beans with a crisper texture. Either way, green beans are a great ally in the struggle to keep healthy (especially after days of eating heavy Thanksgiving food).

They're rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals; I think they're also a great side dish that makes you feel full without packing on the calories. I sautéed the French green beans with baby Bella mushrooms for added flavor and also incorporated caramelized onions, thyme, oregano and basil.
 

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe

As I spent my childhood in France, Thanksgiving wasn't part of our traditional feasts. I’ve come to believe that Thanksgiving is synonymous with an abundance of comfort food. My personal all-time favorite comfort food is mac and cheese, so I tried adapting the dish with the flavors of the holiday season. I added diced pumpkin to the traditional layers of macaroni, white sauce and string-y, melted cheese. The pumpkin infuses a mild sweetness into the dish and really adds another dimension. It also doesn’t hurt that the colors are so reminiscent of Thanksgiving.

Mac and cheese is a great dish that is suitable all year round. You can flavor the dish with your favorite ingredients such as morel mushrooms, red pesto or any combination of cheeses. If pumpkin isn’t your thing, make your own pasta gratin creation; let your imagination run wild!